End Citizens United Sets Sights on Pennsylvania Special Election

We are entering almost unheralded political territory in 2018. The political landscape has undergone an almost complete overhaul thanks to the divisive rhetoric from President Trump and the rest of the Republican base. Now, progressives are aiming to take control of legislative seats across the country by way of a blue wave of state-level victories. Some of the most interesting elections this year have been of the Special Election variety and one of particular note is happening in Pennsylvania between Conor Lamb and Rick Saccone. If the blue wave is to continue, this election will be a deciding factor.

Conor Lamb will be leading the Democratic ticket as he competes for the 18th Congressional District seat in Pennsylvania. The seat was vacated earlier this year by disgraced and scandal-filled Republican Tim Murphy, who had held the seat for years. Murphy got caught up in an extra-marital affair whereupon he pressured his partner to have an abortion — a big no-no from an anti-abortion Republican leader. Much like in Alabama, Democrats see potential to take over a seat that has been left vulnerable by atrocious behavior from Republican leadership. Still, it won’t be easy.

Conor Lamb will be relying on the aid of End Citizens United, a political action committee, in order to spread the word and get his message out to prospective voters. Lamb won his endorsement from End Citizens United by agreeing to become a champion for campaign finance reform. Campaign finance reform has been the driving factor for the work done at End Citizens United since their creation over two years ago. Led by PAC president Tiffany Muller, End Citizens United has been active in fighting to help legislators win election so long as they were willing to go to bat and fight against the rising tide of dark money flooding into the political scene.

As far as Conor Lamb’s success chances go, he’ll need to get his message out and hope that Republicans like Rick Saccone continue to struggle to bring enthusiasm out of their base. Saccone recently scored an endorsement from President Trump and that’ll certainly help his numbers, but it isn’t a sure thing. The last several legislators that a historically unlikable President Trump has endorse have all fallen short of their goals. With End Citizens United at his back, Conor Lamb looks to be in a better position than any other Democrat has ever been in within the district, since at least 2010.